11 CORINTHIANS LESSON 7

     We will begin this lesson in II Corinthians 5:11 "Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made
manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your
consciences."

     The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We do know from
the account of Moses bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt,
that the people greatly feared God. They heard the voice of God
thundering the Ten Commandments to them, and it frightened them so
badly, they asked Moses to speak to God for them. It is a healthy
thing to have great reverence, or fear, of the Lord. Paul realizes
that he too is accountable to God as all men. To those God gives much
knowledge of Him, He requires more of them. Many ministers, today,
threaten people out of hell, rather than love them into heaven. We
know that it is correct to fear God, but what God really wants from us
is pure love. God wants us to follow Him and believe in Him, because
we love Him, not because we fear Him. Paul says, I hope you finally
understand why I am a minister for Christ.

     II Corinthians 5:12 "For we commend not ourselves again unto you,
but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have
somewhat to [answer] them which glory in appearance, and not in
heart."

     Paul is explaining that things are not always what they appear to
be from the outside. The Lord is interested in the heart of man. Paul
is explaining that the Lord wants their love. Jesus did not come to
condemn, but to save those who were lost. Paul refuses to brag about
his ministry on his own behalf. Those who wear fine clothes belong in
palaces. Do not let the outward appearance of man fool you.

     II Corinthians 5:13 "For whether we be beside ourselves, [it is]
to God: or whether we be sober, [it is] for your cause."

     Undoubtedly someone had said that Paul was mad. When I first
began writing these Bible studies, someone said that I was disturbed.
I answered, I surely am disturbed about the carnal living of those in
our country who proclaim Christianity. Paul, perhaps, seemed to be
mad, by those who did not understand what he was preaching. Whatever
state he was in, it was unto God. He was very serious {sober} about
giving the message that might save their souls.  Stop looking with the
physical eye. Things are not always what they seem to be at a glance.

     II Corinthians 5:14 "For the love of Christ constraineth us;
because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:"

     The word "constraineth" means to hold together. Death had been
pronounced on the whole human race. We were all guilty of sin,
punishable by death. Paul is saying, can't you understand that Christ
loved us so much, that He gave His body on the cross that we might
live? Christ loved us. We are His creation. We were all living under
sentence of death, until Jesus Christ paid our penalty in full for us
and brought us life. Colossians 2:13 "And you, being dead in your sins
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with
him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"

     II Corinthians 5:15 "And [that] he died for all, that they which
live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which
died for them, and rose again."

     We see, in the verse above, that the life of selfishness and
pride should be no more, when we receive our new life in Christ.
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
himself for me."  You see, we no longer are our own. We have been
bought and paid for with the precious blood of the Lamb {Jesus
Christ}. I Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labour and suffer
reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of
all men, specially of those that believe."  Romans chapter 10 verses 9
and 10 tell you how you, too, can be saved.

     II Corinthians 5:16 "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after
the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now
henceforth know we [him] no more."

     This was not just dangerous for Paul's time, but is still a
problem today. Many people cannot see beyond the flesh of Jesus. They
see Him as a good man who lived upon the earth. Paul had been included
in that number, until Christ revealed Himself to Paul in the great
Light. Jesus was "Emmanuel", God with us. He was God in the beginning
when He was known as the Word. He was God in the flesh of man when He
was known as Jesus. He is God our King now. Read the first chapter of
John to realize who He really was, and is. Paul's eyes were opened and
he saw the Lord. Have your eyes been opened so that you see Jesus as
more than just man?

     II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is]
a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new.

     God does not make new things. He takes the old and changes it. We
know that before we are born of the water and the Spirit, we are flesh
man. We are living to please the flesh. The new life we get in Jesus
allows that flesh man to die and the new spirit man to live. We are
born, again, unto God. John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God." When we are baptized, it
symbolizes being buried in a watery grave. We leave that old person in
the watery grave. The person who comes up out of the water, is a new
creature in Christ. Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by
baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life." When we become that new creature in Christ, the slate is wiped
clean. We start all over again. We are not condemned for the sin that
Christ has forgiven. We are clean, washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Romans 8:1 "[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
We must, however, walk in this salvation that the Lord purchased for
us. We no longer live, but Christ liveth in us.

     II Corinthians 5:18 "And all things [are] of God, who hath
reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the
ministry of reconciliation;"

     We did not reconcile ourself to Him. He did it for us. Freely we
have received, freely give. Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye
into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark
16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned." Romans 8:15 "For ye have not received
the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit
of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."  Galatians 4:6 "And
because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into
your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."  Jesus reconciled us to the
Father. We are adopted sons of God. Jesus is the natural Son, we are
adopted sons.

     II Corinthians 5:19 "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling
the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and
hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

     Jesus was actually our substitute for our sins. Where God is
concerned, we have no sin. He does not count our past sins, because
those sins died on the cross upon the body of Jesus Christ.

     II Corinthians 5:20 "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead,
be ye reconciled to God."

     An "ambassador for Christ" means that we will represent Christ
here on the earth, to all who will hear. We will not carry our own
message, but will carry Christ's message. A good ambassador does not
bring his own message, but the message he was sent with. Mankind was
alienated from God. The good news of the gospel that God has sent us
to the world with, if accepted, will put those accepting it in right
standing with God. In other words, it will reconcile those receiving
it to God. Acts 26:18 "To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from
darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they
may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are
sanctified by faith that is in me." "In Christ's stead" means He would
bring the message Himself, but since He has gone to heaven, we do it
for Him.

     II Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who
knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

     Jesus took our sin upon His body on the cross. Sin, for the
believer, died on the cross. The greatest trade that was ever made. He
took our sin, and in return clothed us in His righteousness. We are in
right standing with God, because Jesus washed us in His blood.
                     ll Corinthians 7 Questions


1.  The _______ of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
2.  What frightened the Israelites about God?
3.  Who did they ask to speak to God for them
4.  Many ministers threaten people out of _____, instead of loving
    them into _________.
5.  Does God want us to fear Him, or love Him more?
6.  Things are not always what they _________ to be on the outside.
7.  The Lord is interested in the ________ of man.
8.  What had they accused Paul of being?
9.  Who thought him to be mad?
10. What does "constraineth" mean?
11. _______ had been pronounced on the whole human race.
12. When was the penalty of death lifted?
13. Quote Colossians chapter 2 verse 13.
14. Quote Galations chapter 2 verse 20.
15. We have been bought and paid for with the ______ __ ___ _____.
16. Where do you find the verses that tell how you can be saved?
17. Many people can not see beyond the _____  of Jesus.
18. What does "Emmanuel" mean?
19. In the beginning, Jesus name was what?
20. What was different about Him, when He was known as Jesus?
21. Who is He now?
22. Have your eyes been opened, so you see Jesus as more than just
    man?
23. If any man be in Christ, he is a new __________.
24. Does God make new things? Explain.
25. Quote John chapter 3 verse 5.
26. How are the Christians to walk?
27. Quote Romans chapter 8 verse 1.
28. What were we reconciled to God by?
29. Quote Romans chapter 8 verse 15.
30. What are the Christian ministers spoken of in verse 20?
31. Quote Acts chapter 26 verse 18.
32. Jesus took our sin upon His ______ on the cross.
33. What did we receive in exchange for our sin?